LHD 401 or 403

[Geoff Kingston]

I have just bought the parts needed to convert my 401 back to its original LHD layout, when it was converted to RHD in the 60's I had assumed that in terms of the instruments and dash layout only the speedo and rev counter would have been changed over, now however I am not so sure.
Can anybody tell me what the original LHD instrument layout was or even better post a picture.
The car was exported to New York though I don't know if that had any bearing on the dash layout.
I have never seen a LHD handbook which I assume do exist and would show were everything is.
Geoff.

[Geoff Dowdle]

Geoff,
attached are a few photos of LHD 401 dashes .
The steering column recess seems to be the major difference as well
as relocation of instruments & probably wiring .
The clutch transfer lever ,pedals and toe board are different RHD to LHD as well.

There were three 401's displayed at the 1953 New York Motor Show ,
what is the chassis number of your car , I could be one of the three.

Geoff D

[Geoff Kingston]

Geoff,
Thanks for the photographs I was not expecting to see the rev counter next to the steering wheel, could you confim what instruments are to its left , I assume the fuel is still the one in the middle.
My car is Chassis number 911, Geoffrey Herdman has been able to tell me it was sent to New York on the 19th June 1951 and that it's original colour was 'Auto Grey' , the odd thing is and I assume it must have been Bristol Cars that did this it was registered in Bristol on the 21st June as OAE954 2 days after export, I don't know if they intended to sell it in New York, bring it back or were just hedging their bets.
In addition to the LHD rack and pinion I was able to obtain the clutch and brake pedel levers but not the transfer lever, missed that one in the parts book! The toe board is original, the holes on the left blanked off and new ones made rather badly on the right. Even the wiring to the dip switch was left as was and so the switch itself is screwed to a piece of wood left dangling on the wire, not a factory conversion!
I am sure there will be problems I had not expected in putting it back the way it was built but for some reason I feel a lot happier now I have the parts or at least the main ones to do it.
Geoff.